Occipital Nerve Block

Occipital nerve blocks reduce swelling around the occipital nerves and chronic pain associated with tension headaches, cervicogenic headaches, and occipital neuralgia. In occipital nerve block, a local anesthetic and steroid medication is typically injected into the greater and lesser occipital nerves located at the base of the skull at the back of the head. Patients may experience significant pain relief immediately after the injection which may be short-lived or long-lasting.

If you respond well to the occipital nerve block procedure but pain returns, the block may be repeated as a management option for a chronic condition. Although uncommon, risks from the occipital nerve block procedure may include bleeding, infection, nerve damage and allergic reaction to the medication.

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